Radiator filler cap



Feb. 27, 1940. 5, -rzv 2,191,614

RADIATOR FILLER CAP Filed Nov. 6, 1936 Patented Feb. 27, 1940 PATENTOFFICE 2,191,614 RADIATOR FILLER car Ralph S. Frantz, Detroit, Mich,assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation ofDelaware Application November 6, 1936, Serial No. 109,466

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a detail improvement in automobileradiatorfiller devices of the type wherein the removable closure cap hasas a unit therewith a valve structure which cooperates with s the fillerspout in closing the cooling system to the overflow vent. Devices ofthis sort as exemplified by Karmazin Patent No. 1,761,396 afford asimple and convenient arrangement for converting an ordinary open systemto one which is in sealed for operation under a predetermined internalpressure, generated upon thermal expansionof the cooling medium in theliquid circulating system. As ordinarily designed for present daycooling systems the pressure regulating valve 15 blows off automaticallyat three or four pounds .pressure to prevent bursting of the radiator assembly and leakage through the hose connections and such internalpressures are equivalent to raising the boiling point of waterapproximately 20 fifteen degrees.

efficiency and conservation of the liquid are had. An additional valvemay be incorporated in the assembly for the relief of subatmosphericpressure incident to contraction of the cooling system 25 contents.

As heretofore constructed it has been deemed necessary to connect thedetachable closure cap to the spout by screw threads to guard againstquick removal of the cap assembly when internal 3o pressures arepresent. With sudden uncapping the hot liquid under pressure will gushout of the system and injury by scalding or otherwise is likely, but byslowly turning the cap through'a large number of revolutions theassembly is raised :25 and the dependent valve cage is lifted from itsseat on the spout to unseal the system and relieve pressure through theoverflow pipe prior to complete removal of the cap. To eliminateexpensive threading operations in manufacture and the slow tediousturning of the cap through several revolutions in both its applicationand removal during use is one of the objects of the present invention.

More particularly, it is proposed to employ a bayonet type connectionfor application and removal of the cap by only a partial rotation, withcamming abutments to lower and raise the valve cage as'the cap isturned, there being a. special cam profile whereby an intermediatestation or .0 stop is provided to arrest movement and locate the partsin a safety position in which the cage is unseated for the full reliefof internal pressure prior to complete removal of the cap assembly.

The'invention will be best understood upon 55 reference to theaccompanying drawing wherein Consequently, increased cooling Figure 1 isa side elevation showing a fragment of an engine and the radiatorassembly of the engine cooling system; Figure 2 is a vertical sectionalview of the radiator filler device; Figure 3 w is a view showing adevelopment of the cam profile; Figure 4 is a top plan view of thefiller spout with the cap removed; Figure 5 shows a filler spout in sideelevation and illustrates the application of the cam development shownin Figure 3, and Figure 6 is a detail perspective view showing 10 thecam abutment on the removable cap.

Referring to the drawing, the engine I has the outlet from its coolingjacket connected by the hose 2 with the inlet header 3 of the radiatorassembly, the outlet header I being connected by a hose 5 with thesuction side of an engine driven pump 6 which forces water through thecooling jacket. The pump shaft is driven by a belt I from the enginecrankshaft and also mounts thefan 8 which .upon engine operation drawsair through the radiator core 9 connecting the top and bottom tanks 3and 4, for the extraction of heat from the cooling liquid flowingthrough the radiator. The construction as described constitutes theconventional cooling system.

The filling spout, which is located under the hood of the car, isassocia ed with a rearward extension ID at the top of the upper tank andconsists essentially of a tube II fitted and soldered within an annularflange l2 defining an opening in the upper wall of the tank extensionll. At its upper end the tube is reversely folded to form an outturnedflange l3 and a dependent skirt ll,

' the lower edge of which constitutes a camming abutment for a retainerboss or offset IS on the cylindrical wall of the pressed metal cap IS.The cap it has secured thereto by a rivet II or the like, a valve cageto extend downwardly into the filler spout and which for convenience mayinclude a domed cup-shaped stamping l8 and a cylindrical shell I! fittedthereto. The domed portion of the stamping l8 has an inwardly shoulderoflset 20 in 'which is located loosely a gasket 2|, a spring metalbacking plate 22 and a gasket ring 23. Thegasket 23 provides a sealbetween the cap and the central portion of the spring plate 22 and thegasket 2| provides a seal between the periphery of the spring plate andthe flange or seat l3 at the top of the spout. The shouldered ofl'set2|] also affords a seat for one 5 end of a coil spring 24 locatedinteriorly of the cage and active 'on a backing plate 25 for a sealingwasher 26 which bears against the intumed or curled edge 21 at thebottom of the shell I. This curled portion 2101 the cage in the closedposition of the cap seats on a sealing gasket ring 28 resting on theinternal flange 29 at the lower end of the spout ll. Indented lugs 30 onthe spout serve to hold the sealing ring in place. Centrally of the seal26 and backing plate 25 is an aperture or opening normally closed by aplate valve 3| which is suspended and held in position by a light spring32 mounted on a bridge 33. carried by the plate 25.

With the parts positioned as shown in Figure 2 the interior of the spoutis sealed at the top' by the gaskets 2| and 23 and at the bottom issealed from the cooling system by reason of the valve cage bearing onthe sealing ring 28, the interior of the cage being closed by the springpressed valves 26 and 3|. The valve 23 will be held on its seat unlessinternal pressure exceeds the preselected force of the coil spring 24 inwhich case the valve opens outwardly. Excess pressure internally of thesystem is relieved from the interior of the cage through openings 341 orthe like leading into the spout which in turn has extending laterallytherefrom an overflow vent pipe 35 which is of suflicient length toproject down the side of the radiator assembly for discharge at a lowpoint removed from the flller spout. The valve 3| opens in the reversedirection for communicating the interior of the system with the vent toprevent subatmospheric pressures within the system. V

Outward movement of the cage with the cap upon cap detachment breaks theseal between the curled bottom portion 21 of the cage and the gasket 28to communicate the system with atmosphere through the overflow pipe 35.Ho ever, until the cap is completely removed the seal afforded by thegaskets 2| and 23 remains effective, by reason of the resiliency of thedisc 22, to prevent venting of the spout around the edges of the cap.This inward and outward movement of the assembly upon cap rotation is.had by reason of the inclined ramps formed on the lower edge of theskirt l4 andengaged by the diametrically oppositely disposed inwardlydepressed lugs I5 on the cap. 7

As best seen in Figure 3 each camming edge terminates at one limit atthe entrance groove 36 and at the other end in a flnal seating positiondefined by the downwardly projecting shoulder,

31. Between the opposite limits the bottom edge '38 at some convenientpoint between the opposite limits of the ramp. As will be obvious thelug l5 rides down the ramp without any interference from the stop 38 sothat the application of the cap may be readily and quickly made.However, on reverse rotation of the cap, the lug 45 moves away from theshoulder 3'! and upwards onthe cam until its movement is arrested byengagement with the stop 38. In this upward movement of the assembly theseal between the cage and the spout is broken for the relief of internalpressure and before complete removal of the cap can be effected theassembly must be pressed downwardly to enable the lug l5 to clear thestop 33. The stop serves to resist continued rid ing out of the lug onthe cam under internal pressure and the accidental blowing off of thecap. -It also interferes with the free outward movement under manualeffort and gives a warn ing that the cap should be left undisturbeduntil pressure is completely relieved. A further warning in this respectwill be given by the noise of pressure fluid passing out the overflow.

I claim:

A valved closure device of the character described including anattaching cap for removable I mounting on a filler spout, a valveenclosing cage having a lower cylindrical part to seat on the spout andto seat a valve and an upper cupped part in sleeved relation to thecylindrical part, said upper cupped part having a centrally domedportion directly riveted to the cap and provided with an inward offsetcooperating with the cap in afiording an annular retaining recess, aspout sealing diaphragm loosely fitted in and retained by said recess, aspring ring hearing at its periphery on said diaphragm and a sealingring interposed between the cap and the central margin of the springring.

RALPH S. FRAN'I'Z.

